Courses

Overview

Courses are offered subject to demand. Students should consult the website of the Registrar's Office for a list of courses offered in a given year.

Integrated Courses (CHEM 50xx)

CHEM 5021 3.0 Synthetic Organic Chemistry

This course attempts to organize the known reactions of organic chemistry into carbon-carbon bond forming and functional group interconverting types. The techniques of synthetic planning are discussed with reference to selected published syntheses involving skeletal, stereochemical, and multi-stage synthetic examples. Click here to access the course outline.Formerly offered as CHEM 5050 3.0.Integrated with the undergraduate course CHEM 4021 3.0.

CHEM 5023 3.0 Mechanisms of Organic Reactions

A course designed to present the more familiar organic reactions whose mechanisms have been most intensively investigated, as well as some less usual reactions which involve mechanistic points of fundamental interest. Click here to access the course outline.Formerly offered as CHEM 5030 3.0.Integrated with the undergraduate course CHEM 4023 3.0.

This course is designed to introduce graduate students in Chemistry to the use of high resolution NMR spectroscopy with the goal of complete structural elucidation of organic and organometallic compounds. The fundamentals of NMR as well as their mode of application to the solution of various chemical problems is discussed. Click here to access the course outline.Integrated with the undergraduate course CHEM 4024 3.0.

CHEM 5051 3.0 General Biological Organic Chemistry

The course will cover selected topics in biochemistry, chemical biology and biophysics. The focus will be on tools designed by chemists and biophysical chemists to investigate biological systems. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: search, read and understand scientific literature; summarise scientific findings on a particular research topic; raise a hypothesis and strategize the available research tools to probe it; communicate scientific discoveries; work with peers toward gathering literature research on a particular research topic and presenting their findings to peers. Click here to access the course outline.Integrated with the undergraduate course CHEM 4051 3.0.

CHEM 5080 3.0 Advanced Analytical Separation Methods (NEW)

This course will introduce graduate students in Chemistry to the use of modern separation (and analytical) techniques. General and detailed principles of separation techniques are presented and applied to the development and optimization of instrumental methods, such as but not limited to solid phase extraction, gas chromatography, liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. The fundamentals as well as their mode of application to the solution of various chemical problems will be discussed. Click here to access the course outline.Integrated with the undergraduate course CHEM 4080 3.0.

CHEM 5091 3.0 Frontiers in Electrochemistry

This course will present selected aspects of modern surface electrochemistry, electrocatalysis and electroanalysis. It will introduce new methods and instrumentation employed to understand electrochemical processes at the molecular and atomic levels. This will include scanning probe methods (STM and AFM), IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.Formerly offered as CHEM 5120 3.0.Integrated with the undergraduate course CHEM 4091 3.0.

Non-Integrated Courses (CHEM 60xx)

CHEM 6000 3.0 and 6000 6.0 MSc Review Essay

The course is offered as either a 3- (one term; CHEM 6010 3.0) or 6-credit (two terms; CHEM 6010 6.0) option. The scope of the essay will be determined in consultation with a Chemistry faculty member affiliated with the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) with subsequent approval by the Graduate Program Director. Topics can be selected in fields related to analytical (including atmospheric chemistry and mass spectrometry), biological, inorganic, materials, organic, physical and theoretical chemistry. Click here for the course outline.Formerly offered as CHEM 6010 3.0 and 6010 6.0.

CHEM 6011 3.0 Quantum Mechanics

The physical basis of quantum mechanics is discussed along with its evolution from classical mechanics and the old quantum theory. The Schrödinger and Heisenberg treatments of simple physical phenomena involving particles and radiation with specific applications are chosen from important phenomena of physics and chemistry. Formerly offered as CHEM 5510 3.0.

CHEM 6030 3.0 Advanced Main Group Chemistry (NEW)

This course introduces graduate students in Chemistry to the structure, bonding, and reactivity of the p-block elements of the periodic table. By covering advanced structure and bonding concepts in detail, this course provides a solid foundation of the intrinsic properties of the main group elements, which enable their high utility in functional materials as well as catalyst systems. The common thread of the course are the structure, bonding, and reactivity of the (organo)main group, or p-block, elements (groups 1, 2, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18), particularly with a view toward non-classical bonding environments (i.e.; low-valent and hypervalent bonding). These fundamental topics will then lead into the ‘renaissance of main group chemistry’ relating to state-of-the-art research with regard to materials and catalysis applications of main group compounds. Click here for the course outline.Prerequisites: CHEM 3030 3.0 or related upper-level undergraduate inorganic courses.

CHEM 6050 3.0 Biomolecular Interaction

This course covers advanced topics in biomolecular interactions including the role of affinity interactions in biology and technology, theory of affinity interactions, affinity methods, and advanced affinity probes.Formerly offered as CHEM 5410 3.0.

CHEM 6060 3.0 Chemistry of the Natural and Polluted Atmosphere

A detailed study of atmospheric trace gases including stratospheric ozone, tropospheric oxidants, photochemical smog, and acid deposition. Computer simulation of chemical reaction mechanisms will be used throughout the course.Formerly offered as CHEM 5710 3.0.

CHEM 6061 3.0 Nighttime Chemistry of the Atmosphere (NEW)

This course explores "dark chemistry" of the atmosphere. Topics include sources and sinks of nocturnal radicals, heterogeneous reactions, nocturnal buildup of chemical species, reactions of radicals with biogenic and anthropogenic compounds, changes in gas and aerosol speciation, instrumentation for trace measurements and nighttime meteorology with a focus on the chemistry of the troposphere and brief discussion of the stratosphere.Formerly offered as CHEM 5750 3.0.

CHEM 6062 3.0 Heterogeneous Atmospheric Chemistry

An examination of the role of particulates in the atmosphere, their origin, their impact on the atmosphere and removal mechanisms. A similar examination of water droplets focusing on the important chemical processes taking place in the aqueous phase.Formerly offered as CHEM 5730 3.0.

This course introduces graduate students in Chemistry to the fundamentals and applications of modern mass spectrometric techniques. General and detailed principles of operation of a mass spectrometer are presented, as well as its applications to proteomics, metabolomics, and drug discovery. Students learn how to select an ion source according to the sample investigated and how to interpret a mass spectrum. The advantages and limitations of several types of analyzers including magnetic sectors, linear quadrupoles and ion traps are discussed. Qualitative and quantitative approaches are also exposed.

CHEM 6090 3.0 Solid-State, Nano and Materials Chemistry (NEW)

This course surveys recent developments in materials chemistry with emphases on the synthesis, assembly, characterization and physical properties of materials from the nanoscale to the bulk. Topics include fundamentals of solid state chemistry, colloids and nanocrystals, materials via self-assembly and templating, soft-lithography for patterning surfaces, and physical characterization techniques (e.g. powder XRD, electron microscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy and various optical spectroscopies). The application of materials in various fields including optoelectronics, biosensors, drug delivery, heterogeneous catalysis and sustainable energy will be discusses using case studies from the literature. Click here for the course outline.Prerequisites: CHEM 3030 3.0 or related upper-level undergraduate inorganic courses.

Non-Integrated "Special Topics" Courses (CHEM 63xx)

CHEM 6300 3.0 Recent Advances in Chemistry

The course is designed to provide graduates in chemistry with a survey of modern developments in the field. Modern experimental techniques are given special attention.Formerly offered as CHEM 5610 3.0.

CHEM 6310 3.0 Selected Topics in Physical Chemistry

Topics necessarily change from year to year. Typical subject material includes a review of the role of fundamental chemical processes operative in the earth’s atmosphere and in combustion. Modern laboratory methods applied to the study of these processes (e.g., flowing afterglow, time resolved spectroscopy, lasers) and their current limitations are discussed.Formerly offered as CHEM 5170 3.0.

CHEM 6320 3.0 Selected Topics in Organic Chemistry

The topics selected represent significant advances in organic chemistry in recent years and hence necessarily change from year to year.Formerly offered as CHEM 5010 3.0.

CHEM 6330 3.0 Selected Topics in Inorganic Chemistry

Topics selected represent significant advances in inorganic chemistry in recent years and hence necessarily change from year to year. This course is normally taught with CHEM 4030 3.0. Click here for the course outline.Formerly offered as CHEM 5260 3.0.

CHEM 6350 3.0 Selected Topics in Bio-Organic Chemistry

The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with current developments in organic aspects of biological chemistry. Content necessarily changes from year to year. Formerly offered as CHEM 6420 3.0.

CHEM 6360 3.0 Selected Topics in Atmospheric Chemistry

Specialized topics relevant to the chemistry of the atmosphere are presented. Course content necessarily changes from year to year. Sample topics include laboratory kinetic measurements relevant to atmospheric processes; modern methods for the determination of atmospheric composition; visualisation and analysis tools for the interpretation of field and modelled data; and the use of stable isotope analysis in atmospheric chemistry.Formerly offered as CHEM 5740 3.0.

Research Evaluation Courses (CHEM 700x)

CHEM 7000A 3.0, 7000B 3.0 MSc Research Evaluation

Progress in research is assessed annually as described here (see MSc Course Requirements).Formerly offered as CHEM 6020A 3.0 and 6020B 3.0.